Nvidia says that Futuremark Games Studio, with offices in Saratoga and Helsinki, will use its PhysX hardware-accelerated physics technology for upcoming first-person shooter Shattered Horizon.

The multiplayer FPS, which saw its debut at Leipzig's Games Convention last week, has players fight in zero gravity surrounded by rocky debris from a moon explosion. The developer says it uses lighting effects and zero gravity in the aim of creating "the look and feel of real space."

PhysX is composed of a physics engine, API, and middleware software and can be used in development for Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC.
NVIDIA PhysX technology is the world’s most pervasive development platform for physics acceleration in interactive entertainment.

On the PC, PhysX technology can leverage CUDA-enabled parallel processors, including Nvidia's own GeForce GPUs 8 Series and higher -- Nvidia says this lets it handle 10-20 times more visual complexity than traditional PC platforms. The company says all such GPUs are CUDA-enabled, creating an 80 million-plus install base. Over 140 shipping titles for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC use PhysX, according to Nvidia.

"Shattered Horizon has a real space setting that offers gameplay, tactics, and freedom of movement that cannot be found in any other shooter,” said Jukka Mäkinen, Futuremark Games studio head. "PhysX is essential in helping our game designers create a realistic and fun zero-gravity combat experience."